Laviolette addresses Flyers' shootout woes

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Monday, April 4, 2011
Posted: 7:10 p.m.

By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com

Coach Peter Laviolette and his players freely admit thatif the Flyers werent so bloody awful in the shootout, the natives of Flyerdom wouldnt feel quite so restless these days.

Given the talent level on this team, its hard to justify how the Flyers could lose seven of 10 shootouts this season.

With three games to go, the Atlantic Division is almost clinched, but the Eastern Conference's overall top seed remains very much up for grabs. Lets not forget what the Flyers have been saying for two months, the goal is home-ice advantage in the playoffs. A goal easily reached by now if they had won a couple shootouts over the past few weeks.

Of course if the Flyers win tomorrow night at Ottawa, and the Penguins fail to get two points against New Jersey, the Flyers will clinch the Atlantic Division. Laviolettes club control their own destiny through the weekend.

Were in a good spot, Laviolette said. We should go slow before we talk about three games. Just make sure we win one game and concentrate our efforts on a team Ottawa that is not going to make the playoffs, but has found its groove in the second half of the season and playing good hockey.

Its entirely fair to say that shootout losses tend to cloud the Flyers picture because theyre losses in the standings,but they earn a point. They dont reflect the summary of the entire game, only the shootout.

Exactly, there is no question. It clouds things, Laviolette said. As long as youre objective critiquing the game in the locker room. Im pretty honest when we play poor.

Laviolette, much like Rangers coach John Tortorella, doesnt like the shootout.

It misrepresents the game and the minutes, Laviolette said. Thats one thing a shootout can do. Is it entertaining? Sure it is. Does it bring a conclusion to the game? Sure does. One way or the other, youll get a conclusion, but it doesnt always represent the game or how you played.

You leave that rink after battling hard against a desperate team Rangers and yeah, we could have done some things better, but we lost the game on breakaways. Thats why you got to put things in perspective. We played a competitive game Sunday.

Its hard to put a three-game losing streak in perspective. Theyre still losses and theyve been mounting on home ice, eight of the last nine games, which doesnt bode well in the playoffs, does it?

We dont want to go into the playoffs on a losing streak, Jeff Carter said. You want to feel good about yourself and feel confident. We need to get things going.

Carter, Kimmo Timonen, Sean ODonnell and Mike Richards have suggested that the Flyers arent as far away from being back to where they should be in their game.

Whats to like, lately?

Defensively, things have been tight for us, Laviolette said. We havent given up a lot of chances. Weve been playing a tight-checking team. Although I feel weve been getting the better chances, we havent been able to cash in as many times as wed like.

How close are the Flyers?

Well find out tomorrow, Carter replied. Everyone has to do their job. You cant worry about everyone else. Worry about your own and things come together.

Timonen thought the Flyers' effort Sunday in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Rangers was pretty good given the level of desperation the Rangers were facing. The Rangers needed to win to stay alive for a playoff spot.

Im not worried about shootouts because there are no shootouts in the playoffs, Timonen said.

Correct.

Yet, the fact so many games lately have gone that route, four losses in five shootouts since March 17, reflects on the Flyers' inability to pull games out in regulation and overtime.

That is a worry.

I honestly think you go through some bad times with every team, Timonen said. This has been our bad time. Its good we go through this before the playoffs. These hard times bring your team together more. You have to find your way out of it.

Tomorrow, its not a playoff team Senators, but its more about us. Everyone has to bring their A-game. Theres three games left.

Loose pucks
Danny Briere (groin soreness) and Blair Betts (left knee) will not play in Ottawa.

With two centers out, the Flyers recalled versatile center Ben Holmstrom, who was between Scott Hartnell and Kris Versteeg at the practice.

Other lines featured Claude Giroux centering Nikolay Zherdev and Carter. Richards worked between James van Riesmdyk and Ville Leino, while Darroll Powe was centering Andreas Nodl and Dan Carcillo.

Tuesdays game against the Sens will be carried to TCNThe Comcast Network and not on CSN, which has the Sixers.

Leino said he was ticked off at being benched in the third period against the Rangers. Laviolette predicted he would have a monster game tomorrow.

The playoffs open April 13, but becausethe Sixers are playing that night at the Wells Fargo Center the earliest the Flyers could play is April 14.

E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net

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